Soft drink versus fruit juice – is either a good option?

Posted in FAQs, News and Updates on .

Water is regarded as the best thirst quencher and is also good for teeth, as the fluoride in it helps prevent tooth decay.

Soft drinks and fruit juice are commonly found in our diet today and contain various amounts of sugar. Sugar is the main dietary cause of tooth decay and too much sugar, too often, can lead to dental decay. Thus, the Australian Dietary Guidelines recommend that we should ‘eat only a moderate amount of sugars and foods containing added sugars’ to maintain good oral health.

The conundrum is how to decide on the healthiest option for our teeth; a glass of fruit juice or a glass of soft drink?

 What you may not realize is that it just … Continue Reading

How to kick the habit of smoking

Posted in News and Updates, Smoking and Oral Health on .

Millions of people quit the addictive habit of tobacco use every year. The benefits of quitting include reducing the chances of cancer, lung and heart disease.

Tobacco use increases your risk for periodontal treatment complications and/or failure. It also reduces the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to gingival tissues and will impair the body’s defense mechanisms making you more susceptible to infections like periodontal disease. To begin a tobacco-cessation program, ask your Periodontist or medical practitioner for help.

  • Keeping oral substitutes hand such as carrots, apples and sugarless gum.
  • Brushing your teeth.
  • Taking deep relaxing breaths.
  • Spending time in places where smoking is prohibited.
  • Talking to a friend for support.
  • Changing your daily routine and staying busy.
  • Going for a
… Continue Reading

Tobacco and Oral Health

Posted in News and Updates, Smoking and Oral Health on .

Whether you smoke cigarettes, cigars, pipe, or dip or chew tobacco, you are more likely to have periodontal disease than those who do not use any form of tobacco at all.

Smoking may be responsible for more than half of the cases of periodontal disease among adults in the United States, according to a study published in the Journal of Periodontology (JOP). The study found that current smokers are about four times more likely than people who have never smoked to have advanced periodontal disease.

Many chemicals found in tobacco, such as nicotine and tar may have harmful effects on the periodontal tissues. One study even found that current smokers had more plaque and periodontal destruction than former or never … Continue Reading

What are the two most common periodontal diseases?

Posted in FAQs, Periodontal Therapy on .

The two most common forms of periodontal disease are:

Gingivitis

Gingivitis is inflammation which affects the gums only.  Plaque, if not regularly removed, causes the gums to become red, swollen or tender and bleed easily when you brush.  Gingivitis is reversible, however if not treated it may be followed by more serious disorder – periodontitis.

Periodontitis

Periodontitis is a deep inflammation which affects the bone holding the teeth in place.  If left untreated, the attachment holding the tooth in the bone is destroyed, and this leaves a space or “pocket” in which more bacteria can collect.  Bone loss occurs and teeth may become loose, or eventually be lost.… Continue Reading

How expensive are dental implants?

Posted in Dental Implants, FAQs on .

The treatment and associated costs depend on different factors and can vary from person to person.  The costs are calculated from the number of dental implants to be inserted, and if the bone also has to be “built up” to support the implant.  You will receive a written fee estimate before any treatment at Perio Care.… Continue Reading

How do I care for my Implants?

Posted in Dental Implants, FAQs on .

As with natural teeth, you will require regular check-ups and a good home care  to maintain your teeth and your dental implants.   Good oral hygiene is very important for preserving the new teeth and implants.  Just like real teeth, thorough but gentle removal of plaque and tartar makes a major contribution to the long-term success of implant treatment.  Perio Care will will tailor a program to maximize the success of your implant.  Regular check ups including professional implant and tooth cleaning are recommended. Perio Care will work together with your dentist to maintain your implant… Continue Reading

Who can have implants?

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Dental implants can be used as soon as jaw growth is complete.  Apart from this restriction, implants can provide an optimal solution for all age groups.  The basic requirements for successful dental implant treatment are a good general state of health, good periodontal health, and adequate bone quality and volume.

If there is inadequate bone, there are various ways of augmenting the bone to provide support for a dental implant.  Whether dental implants are the best solution in an individual case can only be determined by detailed examination and discussion with your dentist / periodontist.  If all the medical requirements are met, careful treatment planning by the dentist is also required if an optimal and long-lasting outcome is to be … Continue Reading

Will treatment hurt?

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Many of the procedures performed by the hygiene team are very straightforward and do not require anaesthetic.  During maintenance appointments where detailed yet careful cleaning/polishing is performed, some people experience some mild sensitivity in areas but do not require any pain management at all.

Some procedures however may require local anaesthetic, and so the periodontal hygienists at Perio Care are fully qualified in providing local anaesthetic.… Continue Reading

How long is my Hygienist appointment?

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Most sessions with the Periodontal Hygienist will be scheduled for the full hour for maintenance/cleaning appointments.  Shorter appointments can be scheduled for post-operative healing checks and removal of sutures etc.… Continue Reading

How long will I have to have maintenance appointments at Perio Care?

Posted in Dental Implants, FAQs, News and Updates, Periodontal Therapy on .

Your dentist has referred you to Perio Care for a particular periodontal problem or for implant care.  Our ultimate aim is to return you to your referring dentist as soon as your specific or general condition is healthy and stable.

Sometimes achieving true sustainable gum/implant health is initially difficult for some patients so ongoing maintenance appointments are required until ‘stability’ is achieved.  These appointments may be anywhere from 2 to 12 months apart.

Maintenance care may be exclusively undertaken at Perio Care or there may be a ‘shared’ approach where you see both your dentist and the team at Perio Care until everything is healthy.

Remember, it’s the combination of consistent effective home care and the correct interval of professional … Continue Reading